Typhoon bashes Yalong Bay Golf Course

A strong typhoon with winds averaging 130 kilometres per hour smashed Yalong Bay Golf Club, the venue for the Euro250,000 Sanya Ladies Open, before the the tournament, which starts on Friday.Trees, signage, the main VIP marquee and over 150 trees were downed across the course. This has given the course a new character. Two truck loads of coconuts and coconuts tree palms were cleared from the course.Luckily for them, the ground staff led by course superintendent Shane Templeton carried out clearing works from dawn to dusk to bring the course back to its prime condition in time for the start of the Sanya Ladies Open before the players arrived.”The whole course was like a huge rubbish bin. We had to work extra hours to get the course back to shape as the players have started their practice rounds this morning. By this evening the course will be back to normal – minus over 150 trees,” Templeton said.He added that the course was flooded and if it was not for the good drainage the flood waters would still lace the fairways and bunkers. “The bright sunshine and clear skies today are going to help dry up the course and I’m confident the players are really going to enjoy this week at Yalong Bay Golf Club,” Templeton said.